Chiyoda Ute

What Chiyoda Ute does

Chiyoda Ute Co., Ltd. (チヨダウーテ株式会社) is a Japanese public building materials manufacturer (TSE: 5387) headquartered in Kawagoe-cho, Mie Prefecture, with operations tracing back to 1948 and gypsum board manufacturing activity from 1955. The company produces a broad portfolio of gypsum boards and related interior construction materials, with functional variants including fire-resistant, humidity-controlling (using Wakkanai diatomite with claimed 3x moisture absorption performance), sound-insulating, water-resistant, electromagnetic-shielding, and lead-free X-ray-shielding grades. Processed products such as Corner Board, V Line Panel, and MAG+ Board (magnetic-attachment) extend the line into architectural finishing applications, while cement-based AQUAPANEL, calcium silicate boards, and rock wool acoustic panels diversify beyond gypsum substrates.

The business model is B2B-direct and B2B-via-distribution, focused exclusively on the Japanese construction sector. Products are sold through building materials wholesalers and home center chains, with direct sales to general contractors and developers for large projects, supported by regional sales offices (including a Saitama office relocated in July 2023). Manufacturing occurs at the Yokkaichi and Chiba plants, both of which transitioned to renewable electricity in 2023; Chiba experienced a fire incident in December 2025. Raw material input is differentiated by use of chemical gypsum (石こう) — a byproduct from thermal power plants and fertilizer factories — and the company operates a horizontal recycling loop for waste gypsum via the joint venture Tokuyama-Chiyoda Gypsum (Hokkaido) and the 2023-launched Chiyoda Circular Gypsum Board.

Corporate structure includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Chiyoda Processing Center and Chiyoda Metal Stud Kansai, the related entity Pialex Technologies, and the Tokuyama-Chiyoda Gypsum joint venture. Chiyoda Ute is led by President and Representative Director Hirata Kazuhisa; a change in Representative Director was announced on March 27, 2026. ESG positioning is a strategic pillar, evidenced by the 2021 Environment Minister's Award for gypsum board recycling technology, Good Design Awards in 2017, 2020, and 2024, and sponsorship of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Healthcare Pavilion. Geographic footprint is domestic-only (no global expansion claim); the most recent commercial push is the Hokkaido Board sub-brand and a 2025 business partnership with Funaba.

Name

Chiyoda Ute

Legal name

チヨダウーテ株式会社 (Chiyoda Ute Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://chiyoda-ute.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Chiyoda Ute is a Japanese public building materials manufacturer specializing in gypsum boards and related interior products for residential, commercial, and industrial construction, serving the Japanese market via wholesale distribution and direct sales since 1948.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials Manufacturing

NAICS

Gypsum Product Manufacturing (327420), Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing (3274)

SIC

Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270)

akta.pro primary industry

Gypsum Board & Drywall Panels (IMADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plaster (Gypsum/Lime/Cement) & Basecoat Systems (IMADAEAC), Prefabricated Gypsum/Plaster Architectural Elements (Cornices, Ceiling Medallions, Moldings) (IMADAEAL), Acoustic Gypsum Boards & Sound Control Systems (IMADAEAK), Exterior Sheathing & Glass-Mat Gypsum Panels (IMADAEAI)

Keywords

• Gypsum board manufacturing
• Building interior materials
• Fire-resistant construction boards
• Recycled building materials
• Cement board products

Headquarters

HQ city

Mie

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Gypsum Board Sales: Manufacturing and sales of gypsum boards and related building material products. Products include standard gypsum boards, specialty boards (fire-resistant, moisture-control, soundproof), cement boards, calcium silicate boards, rock wool panels, and steel framing materials.
2. Processed Gypsum Board Products: Value-added processed gypsum board products including corner boards, decorative panels (V Line Panel), exterior boards, and custom-fabricated components for construction applications.
3. Construction Materials and Accessories: Sales of complementary construction materials including joint compounds, steel framing (鋼製下地材), soil improvement materials, and fire/seismic-resistant systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chiyoda Ute develops, manufactures, and sells building interior materials centered on gypsum board products. The portfolio includes standard and specialty gypsum boards (fire-resistant, humidity-controlling, soundproof, X-ray shielding, electromagnetic shielding, magnetic), cement boards (AQUAPANEL), calcium silicate boards, rock wool acoustic panels, steel framing materials, and processed gypsum products. The company serves the Japanese construction industry through wholesalers, home centers, and direct supply to construction companies.

Product overview

Chiyoda Ute is a comprehensive building materials manufacturer specializing in gypsum board products as its core offering since 1955. The product portfolio centers on gypsum boards with various functional variants including fire-resistant, humidity-controlling (Wakkanai diatomaceous earth), magnetic attachment, water-resistant, electromagnetic shielding, and X-ray shielding types. The company has expanded into circular economy products with the Chiyoda Circular Gypsum Board made from recycled waste gypsum, cement-based products including AQUAPANEL for wet areas, and steel framing/accessory materials. Fire resistance and sound insulation performance systems are offered as construction methods, while V Line Panel and Corner Board represent processed/architectural finish products. The product ecosystem ranges from basic construction substrates to specialty boards with health, safety, and environmental functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• チヨダサーキュラーボード (Chiyoda Circular Board): Circular economy gypsum board made from recycled materials, winner of 2024 Good Design Award
• さらりウォール (Sarari Wall)
• チヨダ北海道ボード (Chiyoda Hokkaido Board)
• チヨダMAG+ボード (Chiyoda MAG+ Board)
• チヨダ外壁ボード (Chiyoda Exterior Board)

Products and services

• Gypsum Board (せっこうボード) Standard gypsum board with fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound insulation properties. Widely used in residential, school, office, and hotel buildings. The company's foundational product since 1955.
• Chiyoda Circular Gypsum Board (チヨダサーキュラーせっこうボード) Environmentally-friendly gypsum board manufactured using recycled waste gypsum board, contributing to CO2 reduction and circular economy in the construction industry. Winner of 2024 Good Design Award.
• Chiyoda MAG+ Board (チヨダMAG+ボード) Gypsum board that allows magnets to be attached to its surface, enabling easy decoration and organization without tools or adhesive damage.
• Chiyoda Exterior Wall Board (チヨダ外壁ボード) Exterior wall substrate material for wooden frame construction, providing structural support and weather resistance for building exteriors.
• AQUAPANEL (Aqua Panel) Cement board product line including exterior sheathing and curved wall systems, designed for moisture-resistant applications in wet areas and exterior surfaces.
• V Line Panel (VLP) Gypsum board processed product featuring decorative V-shaped groove patterns for architectural interior design applications.
• Corner Board (コーナーボード) Gypsum board corner trim product designed to protect wall corners and create safe spaces for children. Winner of Good Design Award 2017 and Kids Design Award 2018.
• Sawayaka Gypsum Board (さわやかせっこうボード) Humidity-controlling gypsum board incorporating Wakkanai diatomaceous earth that provides perpetual moisture absorption and release functionality without electricity.
• Sarari Wall (さらりウォール) Interior wall system combining humidity-controlling diatomaceous earth gypsum board with formaldehyde adsorption and decomposition functionality. Winner of 2020 Good Design Award and Kids Design Award.
• Strengthened Gypsum Board (強化せっこうボード) Reinforced gypsum board designed for semi-fireproof and fireproof structural applications in buildings.
• Zenaji Board (ゼナジーボード) Fire-resistant gypsum board specifically designed for fireproof structural applications.
• Tairyoku Board NEO (耐力ボードNEO) Load-bearing facing material for interior walls, providing structural reinforcement in wooden construction.
• FC Board (FCボード) Formaldehyde adsorption board that helps reduce formaldehyde levels in indoor environments.
• High Air-Tight Board (高気密ボード) Board designed to prevent internal condensation by providing high air-tightness performance.
• Water-Resistant Board / Non-combustible Water-Resistant Board (耐水ボード/不燃耐水ボード) Water-resistant gypsum board for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, with fire-resistant versions available.
• Super Board (スーパーボード) Electromagnetic wave shielding board designed to block or reduce electromagnetic radiation in buildings.
• Skewutam Board (スキュータムボード) / Lead-Free X-ray Shielding Board Lead-free X-ray shielding board for medical facilities, providing radiation protection without lead content.
• Steel Frame Materials (鋼製下地材) Steel framing materials used as underlayers for gypsum board installation in walls and ceilings.
• Construction Materials (施工用資材・関連資材) Construction auxiliary materials and related supplies for gypsum board installation and finishing.
• Soil Improvement Materials (土質改良材) Soil improvement materials for civil engineering and construction applications.
• Calcium Silicate Board (ケイカル) Calcium silicate board product line for fire-resistant and moisture-resistant applications.
• Rock Wool Sound Absorption Board (ロックウール系吸音板) Rock wool-based sound absorption boards designed to reduce noise and improve acoustic performance in buildings.
• Chiyoda Hokkaido Board (チヨダ北海道ボード) Regional brand of gypsum board products for the Hokkaido market. Certified as Hokkaido Certified Recycling Product in March 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800 liters of water-based fire protection per 30-tsubo house through crystalline water content
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 船場 (Funaba)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Business partnership (業務提携) initiated in July 2025. Collaboration on business development and market expansion within the Japanese building materials industry.
• グランディハウス (Grandy House)minorOthersConstruction project partnership. Grandy House adopted チヨダサーキュラーせっこうボード for residential construction projects.
• チヨダ加工センター株式会社 (Chiyoda Kako Center)coreOthersRelated group company specializing in gypsum board processing and fabrication.
• チヨダメタルスタッド関西株式会社 (Chiyoda Metal Stud Kansai)coreOthersRelated group company specializing in steel framing (steel stud) products for the Kansai region.
• 株式会社ピアレックス・テクノロジーズ (Pialex Technologies)coreOthersRelated group company in the Chiyoda Ute corporate group.
• 株式会社トクヤマ・チヨダジプサム (Tokuyama-Chiyoda Gypsum)coreOthersJoint venture company for waste gypsum board recycling. Located in Hokkaido. Recycling factory completed in July 2016. Pioneer in gypsum board recycling technology receiving Environment Minister Award.
• Knauf Insulation (独国Knauf Insulation社)minorOthersProduct partnership. Earthwool glass wool insulation material from Knauf Insulation added to product lineup in March 2017.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Saint-Gobain: Global building materials group whose Rigips brand is one of the world's largest gypsum board manufacturers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in interior building systems, including plasterboard, insulation, and acoustic solutions.
• Knauf: Global leader in gypsum building materials headquartered in Germany, and Chiyoda Ute's product partner (Knauf Insulation Earthwool added to lineup in 2017). Competes broadly in gypsum boards, plasters, and insulation worldwide.
• Georgia-Pacific (GP) Gypsum: Major North American manufacturer of gypsum wallboard and related building products (DensGlass, ToughRock). Comparable product portfolio and end markets (residential, commercial construction) though operating primarily in the U.S.

Direct peers

• Yoshino Gypsum: Japan's largest gypsum board manufacturer and the dominant domestic incumbent. Directly comparable on product category (gypsum board, fire/sound systems) and target customer base (Japanese construction), with materially larger scale than Chiyoda Ute.
• National Gypsum Company: U.S. specialty gypsum board manufacturer (Gold Bond, XP, eXP). Closely comparable on specialty boards (fire-resistant, moisture/mold-resistant) and on construction channel focus. Regional peer from a product/technology standpoint.
• A&A Material Corporation: Japanese non-ferrous metals and specialty building materials manufacturer (galvanized steel, etc.) competing in adjacent construction materials categories served by Chiyoda Ute's steel framing and processed products.
• Nichiha Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of exterior wall materials and siding for residential and commercial construction. Comparable as a domestic building-products specialist serving the same Japanese construction channel as Chiyoda Ute.

Regional players

• Sumitomo Forestry / Wood One: Japanese wood and building materials groups serving the residential construction market. Comparable as Japanese-channel building materials suppliers competing for the same construction-industry wallet share as Chiyoda Ute, though focused on wood-based rather than gypsum-based systems.
• Boral Limited (now Suntec): Australia-based building materials manufacturer with significant gypsum and wallboard operations (USG Boral joint venture history). Comparable on product category though primarily serving Asia-Pacific and Australian markets rather than Japan.

Others

• Tokuyama Corporation: Japanese chemical company and Chiyoda Ute's joint-venture partner in Tokuyama-Chiyoda Gypsum (recycling). Comparable as a chemical-gypsum supply chain participant and adjacent supplier to the gypsum board industry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=8FJ24WJ6TkE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chiyoda-ute-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chiyoda Ute